St. Louis businesses encouraged to keep $10 minimum wage

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The $10 per hour minimum wage law in St. Louis will be short-lived, but an effort launching Friday will encourage and pressure businesses to honor the higher wage even if state law doesn't require it.

Organizers on Thursday detailed the "Save the Raise" campaign to The Associated Press. It will urge employers to keep paying workers at least $10 an hour. Businesses agreeing to do so will be listed on the campaign's website. On the other side, organizers vow to protest businesses that roll back wages.

St. Louis' higher wage was implemented in May after a lengthy legal battle. State lawmakers almost immediately passed a bill prohibiting local minimum wages different from the state minimum, currently $7.70 per hour. The St. Louis law is rolled back effective Aug. 28.